cannabisnews.com: Study Raises Questions About Clinics Link To Crime
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Study Raises Questions About Clinics Link To Crime
Posted by CN Staff on June 07, 2012 at 09:35:35 PT
By Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times
Source: Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles -- Medical marijuana dispensaries would seem to be natural targets for criminals. According to a leading theory of criminology, pot dispensaries have several key attributes that put them at risk:-- They sell a product (marijuana) that is attractive to criminals.-- They usually operate on a cash-only basis (a cash stash also tends to attract would-be thieves).
-- The clients of marijuana clinics carry cash (in order to purchase their medicine).-- Many clients are frail due to their medical conditions and may not be able to fight off attackers.In Europe, "hash clubs" and other drug dispensaries have developed a reputation as being "a breeding ground for criminal networks," according to a new study by two UCLA researchers. And some recent headlines indicate that U.S. pot dispensaries may be on track to follow suit. A 2009 white paper from the California Police Chiefs Assn. made a pretty good case that they would:"Marijuana dispensaries are commonly large money-making enterprises that will sell marijuana to most anyone. ... While the dispensaries will claim to receive only donations, no marijuana will change hands without an exchange of money. These operations have been tied to organized criminal gangs, foster large grow operations, and are often multi-million-dollar profit centers. Because they are repositories of valuable marijuana crops and large amounts of cash, several operators of dispensaries have been attacked and murdered by armed robbers both at their storefronts and homes, and such places have been regularly burglarized.”The pair of researchers from UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs decided to see whether clinics in California (one of 17 states that has legalized medical marijuana, along with the District of Columbia) fit the European profile.Nancy Kepple and Bridget Freisthler focused on Sacramento, where dispensaries operated for six years before local regulatory policies were put in place in 2010. The researchers mapped all 40 clinics in the city, figuring out whether they were in neighborhoods with many single-parent households, families living in poverty, vacant housing units, a high proportion of young men, easy access to a freeway on-ramp and other characteristics associated with crime.Then they plugged in crime data from 2009 to see if there were any relationships between robberies, thefts and other acts of vice and the presence of drug dispensaries.The models the researchers came up with confirmed that factors such as unemployment, commercial zoning and a high proportion of young adults were indeed associated with higher crime rates. But the number of marijuana clinics in a neighborhood had nothing to do with any of it, they found.Writing up their results in the July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, however, the researchers didn't seem to be persuaded by their own results. They noted that one possibility is that "the density of medical marijuana dispensaries may not be associated with neighborhood-level crime rates," but they also theorized that the relationship "is likely more complex" than could be measured with the available data.To make a convincing case that pot dispensaries really don’t contribute to crime, the outlets would need to be tracked in more cities for a longer period of time, they wrote.Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)Author: Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles TimesPublished: June 7, 2012Copyright: 2012 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/Ejq0J6imCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by Oleg the Tumor on June 10, 2012 at 15:01:33 PT:
Attention: runruff, museman, Paint with light
It is clear to me all of us have "gone to different schools together." Our paths to reach this moment lead back and away into the dark. The path forward, into the light is the definition of freedom for all. It is to this end, that I challenge the three of you to understand the fundamental math underlying this quote from Twain:"Humanity has unquestionably one really effective weapon—laughter. Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution—these can lift at a colossal humbug—push it a little—weaken it a little, century by century; but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand."What Twain is saying here is that when you take something like satire, presented up front as false–by–definition "for entertainment purposes", and then-within the context of the story, describe the lie as it really is. The result is a close examination between subjective opinions and objective facts. Laughter, at that point becomes, among other things, a neurochemical understanding of the truth– direct and irrevocable. (hence "rags and atoms")Right now, each of us is (or should be) powered by righteous rage, with cause. We all know America has been betrayed. Now is the time to channel that energy on a common target.So to one and all: sit and smoke for a while, then go to: www.thespoof.com and see how satire can be used to make your point.
Of course, it's all done gratis, and somebody else is making money, but I see that as an even trade because right now the other tab on my browser says that there are 831 people at that website right now influencing the national debate by forwarding the stories they like to their friends.I take too many meds to enjoy alcohol, so instead of legalizing it like alcohol, I think I'd rather become a hemp farmer instead when I grow up.Peace
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #16 posted by museman on June 10, 2012 at 09:12:07 PT
runruff
There's some water under that bridge. And it seems to be still flowing.Thank You.A friend in in deed is worth more than words, except maybe poetry, can describe.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #15 posted by runruff on June 10, 2012 at 08:30:03 PT
Museman
Thank you for being my good and constant friend these past 25 years. You and your dear family are very special to me and always will!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #14 posted by Paint with light on June 09, 2012 at 23:14:52 PT
hallucinations
Someone has a real personal problem.Legal like alcohol.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #13 posted by museman on June 09, 2012 at 10:12:25 PT
refresher
again...
Elephant
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #12 posted by Paint with light on June 08, 2012 at 22:57:03 PT
Holder on Medical cannabis
I just ran across this.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article/comments/view?f=/c/a/2012/06/07/MND51OULC1.DTLLegal like alcohol.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #11 posted by Oleg the Tumor on June 08, 2012 at 07:47:11 PT:
runruff
You have a good sense of humor. I like the "Hindenburg" treatment you gave on #1.
When the whole lie falls apart, this is what the cops with boat payments will cry out loud.You might want to check out www.thespoof.com. Its a good place to post satire and very easy to contribute to.
I post there "just to get the work in" between other writing.
http://www.thespoof.com
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #10 posted by Canis420 on June 07, 2012 at 23:07:31 PT:
Ripit #3
We dont hear about dispenseries gettin robbed either...more lies
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #9 posted by runruff on June 07, 2012 at 19:19:18 PT
Her bullet points are all misfires and duds!
"They sell a product (marijuana) that is attractive to criminals"When they try too hard; They sell a product that is attractive to criminals, Cars, jewelry, Pharma-drugs, guns, alcohol, ciggs, Gotti liked expensive suits, banks, let's see what else? I guess I've made my point.
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Comment #8 posted by runruff on June 07, 2012 at 18:25:18 PT
Why the elephant painted her toenails red?
So she could hide in cherry trees.Ever see an elephant in a cherry tree? No? Must work then!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #7 posted by runruff on June 07, 2012 at 18:23:01 PT
Why did the chicken not cross the street?
Because there was a KFC on the other side!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #6 posted by Dr Ganj on June 07, 2012 at 13:38:06 PT
TSA & LAX
If we can't keep drugs out of our own prisons, and we can't trust TSA security, or border check authorities, then
why even bother with such a failed, miserable, drug war?
Oh, I know. Follow the money. Fine. But at what cost?
50,000 Mexicans killed. 2.1 million Americans in prison.
It just makes me ill.
When will this madness end? So much corruption, from president Obama, right down to greedy little TSA agents.
Just sickening.
http://southgate.patch.com/articles/tsa-screeners-arrested-for-allegedly-smuggling-cocaine-meth-through-lax#photo-9724872
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #5 posted by bullhead on June 07, 2012 at 11:47:34 PT:
Crime
The true crime in this situation is the Police kicking in the doors of law abiding business owners!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #4 posted by afterburner on June 07, 2012 at 11:33:22 PT
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Comment #3 posted by ripit on June 07, 2012 at 10:16:55 PT
i'll never buy it
i wonder just how many banks get robbed every day in cali? and for that matter,how about pharmacys?doesn't every one of them have a stockpile of hillbilly heroin on hand? you never hear about them getting robbed do you?
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Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on June 07, 2012 at 10:08:41 PT
wow
propaganda doesn't get any stronger than this! Total hogwash! What do they think these dispensaries are replacing! criminal gangstersOf course the biggest criminals will be found in the California state house
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Comment #1 posted by runruff on June 07, 2012 at 10:07:35 PT
"Oh the payola", excaimed the cop!
Everything the cops say is a lie. They are professional liars, that's what they do!Of course the cops want to keep the pot trade on the streets! On the street where they get their cut. On the street where the real violence takes place. Real violence you can sell to the public to keep them scared and wanting police protection. Police protection they can sell at a higher price due to increased demand. Tell your friends and neighbors folks, all cops are liars and they do not work for us!
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